Fight StressWith
Healthy Habits
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today.
O
n the outside, you may look
like someone who has it all
under control. But if you’re like
most folks, stress from your job, your
relationships, your nances—your
whatever—is simmering just below
the surface. And unless you can dial
down those stressors in a healthy way,
they could boil over and damage your
emotional and physical well-being.
THE TOLL OF STRESS
Stress is likely to strike when deadlines
loom, when little annoyances pile up
or when big changes—such as a job
loss, divorce, illness or death in the
family—occur in your life.
Common signs of stress include
feeling worried, irritable, depressed
or unfocused. People who are
stressed out may also have physical
symptoms, such as headaches,
back pain, trouble sleeping,
digestive problems, tense muscles
and changes in weight.
As uncomfortable as
those symptoms can be,
long-term stress can
also lead to serious
health problems.
Depression, heart
disease, high blood
pressure, fatigue and
obesity are just some of the
risks linked to stress.
FIGHT BACK
Realistically, almost no one is able to
avoid stress entirely. But each of us can
take steps to manage stress and protect
our health. Here are a few ideas from
the American Heart Association, the
American Psychological Association
and other experts:
Talk it out.
Connecting with
friends, family and co-workers is a
great stress-buster. Try to talk, email
or write to a friend or loved one every
day. Discussing your problems with
someone you trust can help put things
in perspective.
Get physical.
Exercise is a stress
buster. It can help relieve mental and
physical tension and
reduce anxiety and
depression. It can
also help you relax
and sleep better
and improve
your sense of
well-being.
Seek some slumber.
Your body
needs plenty of rest to beat stress. If
you aren’t getting the recommended
seven to nine hours of sleep each night,
take a look at your bedtime habits. Do
you go to bed at about the same time
every night? Is your bedroom dark,
quiet, cool and comfortable? Are you
avoiding distractions, like late-night
TV or computer work?
Ditch the bad habits.
Smoking,
eating a poor diet and drinking
beverages containing alcohol or
ca eine can all increase your stress.
Laugh.
Out loud, if you can. You’ll
feel better, worry less and enjoy life
more.
Finally, if these do-it-yourself
methods for relieving stress aren’t
working as well as you’d like, it might
be time to get some professional help.
A psychologist, social worker or other
mental health professional can help
you better understand and deal with
your stress.
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| Winter 2014
